September 4th. About midnight last night I was called up by the Adjutant to take a detail of ten men, go to the rear, find the ammunition train, obtain five thousand rounds of cartridges, five boxes. It was estimated the train was about a mile in the rear, owing to the enemy’s firing from field guns very late in the night. The boxes were very heavy. The detail ought to have been twenty men, as we had so far to carry the boxes. It was a fearful dark night. Going back we lost our reckoning. Began to think we were approaching the enemy’s line. I ordered a halt. Told the boys I would go forward and investigate and locate the regiment if I could. Going forward carefully, listening, looking in all directions, believed I was approaching the enemy’s line. I knew when darkness came on both lines were very close to each other. To the right I could see the outline of trees. Approaching them I saw horses, and men sleeping on the ground. Owing to the darkness I could not see who they were. Putting on a bold front I called out “What regiment?” For answer I received a glorious reply, “The 18th Connecticut.” Overjoyed I near dropped to the ground. I ran back to the boys and the ammunition was delivered to headquarters in safety, for which I was very thankful. On our return from the ammunition train we had worked off to the left, approached the regiment from the south instead of from the north side, where we left. Lay down for a rest. Had a talk with some prisoners captured last night on the charge. They were from Mississippi. Claimed they did not know we were in their front. They were on their way to cross Snicker’s Ford and the Gap. It seemed to be a surprise all around. We are now under the command of General Sheridan. The enemy won’t fool him. At daylight the ammunition was given out and the line of battle was changed. Ordered to fall back and change our position. Passed the 12th Connecticut, in the 19th Corps. We are under the command of Captain Tiffany. Owing to severe service for the past eight months our regiment greatly reduced in numbers. Less than one hundred men fit for duty and not a field officer except the Adjutant. Our regiment detailed to guard the wagon train. Don’t like that kind of duty. Must take our turn at it. Guerillas keep us busy. As many of them dress in blue uniforms we cannot tell them from our own men. Sometimes they manage to cut out of a train three or four wagons loaded with supplies. The drivers will most generally obey orders, whether from friend or foes, when they see a gun pointed at their heads. Sometimes it is most impossible to keep the teams close together, but at this time the train is parked, so we stand guard around it. All is quiet at this time along our lines at Berryville.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Sunday, 4th—It is cool and quite pleasant. No news of any importance. The boys in my ward are all getting along fine, with the exception of two or three, and it is doubtful whether they will ever again be well.
Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 4. Inspection as usual at 7 A. M. 8 A. M. made glad by the arrival of Uncle Lester with bag full of mail and papers. Received none of the former, but the news is glorious. Atlanta is ours. Sherman routed his foe. Fort Morgan surrendered with prisoners. Wheeler retreating. Hurrah! I say. Discouraging enough to the cowardly party that has just nominated G. B. McClellan for president at Chicago.
W. A. Gordon, one of the oldest members of the Battery, died at noon in camp after a short hut severe illness. He left a large family last winter who will miss their kind father and protector.
Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C., Sept. 4, 1864.
Dear Hannah, — We are quite comfortably situated here, considering our position as prisoners of war. Eight of us have a room together, about 18 feet by 15. It is on the ground floor and on the corner, so that we get plenty of air, and manage to keep quite cool and comfortable during this hot weather. The occupants of the room are Colonel Marshall, 14th N. Y. H. A., Colonel White, 31st Maine, Lieutenant Colonel Buffum, 4th R. I., Major Filler, 55th Penn., Captain McChesney of a N. Y. regiment, Captain Amory of Jamaica Plain, Lieutenant Sterling, A. D. C. to General Terry, and myself. Our rations are corn-meal, bacon, tobacco and salt. We have plenty, and are allowed to buy anything that we wish outside.
I wish you would try and have a box sent on to me. Send cards (6 packs at least) and clothing and books. Also send me a bill of exchange for 20 pounds sterling. Captain Williams of the navy will tell Father what I wish. Please write and give me the news. Also any information you may have from my regiment. . Send your letter by way of Port Royal.
Sunday, September 4. — Nothing new, except that Atlanta is certainly captured, but no mention made of the number of prisoners. Had nothing to do as it was Sunday. Read The Monastery. Night warm.
Camp Near Berryville, September 4, [1864].
Sunday evening.
Dearest: — We had one of the fiercest fights yesterday I was ever in. It was between the South Carolina and Mississippi Divisions under General Kershaw and six regiments of the Kanawha Division. My brigade had the severest fighting, but in loss we none of us suffered as might have been expected. We were under cover except when we charged and then darkness helped. We whipped them, taking about one hundred prisoners and killing and wounding a large number. Captain Gillis was killed, shot near the heart, Captain Austin dangerously wounded through the right shoulder, George Brigdon, my color-bearer, bearing the brigade flag, mortally wounded. Only ten others of [the] Twenty-third hurt. Sixty in the brigade killed or wounded. Captain Gillis was a noble, brave man, a good companion, cheerful and generous — a great loss to us. The Rebel army is again just before us.
It was a pleasant battle to get through, all except the loss of Gillis and Brigdon and Austin. I suppose I was never in so much danger before, but I enjoyed the excitement more than ever before. My men behaved so well. One regiment of another division nearly lost all by running away. The Rebels were sure of victory and run [ran] at us with the wildest yells, but our men turned the tide in an instant. This was the crack division of Longstreet. They say they never ran before.
Darling, I think of you always. My apprehension and feeling is a thousand times more for you than for myself. I think we shall have no great battle. We are again entrenched here. Our generals are cautious and wary. — Love to all. The dear-boys, God bless them.
Affectionately ever, your
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Sept. 4th. At 12 o’clk our guns fired a salute on the capture of Atlanta. The rebs replied with shell and we answered and for a while the shot fell thick.
4th. Sunday. Moved back by road. Rebs at Berryville and in our rear. 2nd Ohio train guard. Custer’s brigade suffered some. Train moved to Rippon. Parked.
September 4, 1864.
Received a half official notification to-day that the campaign and fighting are over. Orders to clean up arms came also, and the boys, showing their contempt of the enemy’s power to do harm, took their guns all to pieces and set to polishing the should-be bright parts, right in view of the enemy’s pickets.
by John Beauchamp Jones
SEPTEMBER 4TH.—Showery.
Atlanta has fallen, and our army has retreated some thirty miles; such is Hood’s dispatch, received last night.
The cheering in Grant’s camp yesterday was over that event. We have not had sufficient generalship and enterprise to destroySherman’s communications.
Some 40,000 landowners, and the owners of slaves, are at their comfortable homes, or in comfortable offices, while the poor and ignorant are relied upon to achieve independence and these, very naturally, disappoint the President’s expectations on momentous occasions.
